Media disdain for the David Gregory story

12/26/12 10:44 PM EST

Some political and media types weren't impressed by headlines this week reporting that D.C. police are investigating the alleged display of a gun magazine on NBC's Meet the Press. They took to the Internet with their disdain for the story.

"Excellent use of DC police resources, investigating 'Meet the Press' for committing an act of journalism," snarked the Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg.

"When guns are outlawed, only David Gregory will have guns," Slate's Matt Yglesias offered.

The Twitter sarcasm came a day after police said they were "investigating" after "Meet the Press" host David Gregory brandished what appeared to be a 30-round gun magazine on the Sunday show while interviewing National Rifle Association head Wayne LaPierre. Police said use of a magazine in that context could have violated D.C. laws.

The story picked up Wednesday as conflicting reports emerged concerning what NBC knew about the legality of displaying the magazine. But some didn't think it was much of a story at all.

"David Gregory ammo nonstory may be even more of a nonstory," tweeted Jeff Jarvis, linking to one report about NBC's due diligence before the segment.

"How much time and money is going to be spent (wasted) investigating him? Can you think of a sillier use of investigative resources? " she wrote. " I will bet my right arm David Gregory is not going to go out and commit some crime with that magazine…or that he intended to flaunt the law (if it was against the law.) At worst, it was a stupid TV stunt (and so what!) And yes, we are all capable of stupid TV stunts!"

Howard Kurtz also said use of the magazine might have been a stunt, but not one that should warrant a police investigation.

"Was it a stunt? Yep, and an eye-catching one," he wrote. "Was Gregory being aggressive with the NRA chief, or seeming to push gun control in a confrontational interview? All that is up for debate. But a police probe over what I assume was an empty ammo clip is a total waste of time."

A police spokesman did confirm to POLITICO that improperly displaying even an empty magazine was illegal.

"Also, is this David Gregory story really happening?" jabbed writer Garrett Quinn.

Talking Points Memo's Igor Bobic changed the subject: "Once David Gregory did the Gangnam Style dance, there was no turning back," he tweeted.